Is It Safe to Drink Water from Your Bathroom Tap?
Is It Safe to Drink Water from Your Bathroom Tap?
Tap water in the UK is safe to drink, and its quality is among the best in the world.
Although water from your kitchen tap is safe to drink, the same cannot be guaranteed for bathroom tap water.
Cold water from a bathroom tap with a mains connection is usually safe to drink. Drinking warm water from the bathroom, however, is not advisable since it typically comes from a water heater or storage tank and may have collected impurities, making the water from your bathroom tap potentially unsafe.
Most water supplies, especially in hard water regions, contain limescale. Although drinking it is safe, a quality water filter can help minimise limescale and enhance the water’s quality.
Unlike limescale, lead can be harmful if ingested. The good news is that lead is rarely present in tap water, but the bad news is that water can pick up lead from old lead pipes.
You are at greater risk if you live in an area with soft water, since hard water contains more limescale, which can help block lead contamination. Replacing old lead pipes with copper or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes can prevent lead from entering your water.
Let’s explore the safety of drinking water directly from your bathroom tap in this Q&A-style blog.
How Safe and Clean Is Tap Water in the UK?
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) monitors the quality of drinking water in the United Kingdom, ensuring that it is clean and safe. They monitor for risks including E. coli and other bacteria, as well as manage public enquiries and investigate water safety complaints.
DWI Standards for Tap Water Quality in the UK
The DWI has established strict Drinking Water Standards and Regulations regulating the presence of added chemicals and dangerous bacteria in drinking water. These standards make it clear that all drinking water must be safe and wholesome.
The DWI tests tap water every day, while bottled water is only checked once a month. This makes tap water generally safer than bottled water.
The quality of tap water in the UK is rated 99.96%, making it one of the best in the world, according to Discover Water (see page 12 of the DWI 2022 report). Drinking from your kitchen tap is perfectly safe.
How Tap Water Is Purified and Treated in the UK?
Water Treatment Process in the UK
Storage
Storage is the first stage of water treatment. Water is kept in reservoirs for several weeks, allowing particles to settle naturally. Some of these reservoirs are large enough for local communities to enjoy activities like fishing, sailing, bird watching, and nature walks.
Storage enables a natural purification process, with heavier particles settling to the bottom and eliminating the need for manual removal.
Screening
The stored water is then filtered through a screen to remove leaves, branches, and other debris that might obstruct treatment.
Some treatment plants use additional processes, such as ozone, carbon, and ion exchange, to remove invisible and dissolved particles. These methods cause chemical reactions that help eliminate even the finest impurities.
Final Treatment
A little chlorine is added to kill leftover microbes so the water stays safe on its way to your tap.
Quality Control
Water undergoes careful laboratory testing by qualified scientists at multiple stages, ensuring it consistently meets high safety and quality standards.
This robust system guarantees that tap water in the UK meets strict safety standards and remains one of the best-quality water supplies globally.
Is it Safe to Drink Bathroom Tap Water?
Bathroom tap water at home can taste slightly different from kitchen water and usually feels a bit warmer.
But is it really unsafe to drink the water you use daily to brush your teeth? Let’s take a look at the following study:
Research from Brunel University, London, found that when you drink tap water, you might be consuming tiny traces of other people’s medications, since modern medicines are durable and do not break down easily.
Although the levels of these medications in tap water remain fairly consistent, a large portion of the drugs people take is excreted into the wastewater system.
Over time, a portion of these medications can return to household water, remaining mostly unchanged despite sewage treatment.
Factors to Consider When You Drink Water from the Bathroom Tap at Home
Drinking water from the bathroom tap is generally safe if your home is connected to the mains supply, but there are a few important points to keep in mind:
Water Source and Temperature
Warm bathroom tap water comes from a tank or heater and may pick up impurities. Cold water straight from the kitchen tap is the best choice for drinking.
Pipe Material and Age
Even though lead pipes were banned in the UK in the 1970s, many older homes still have them, posing a potential health risk.
Tap water may contain orthophosphate to reduce lead. Replacing old lead pipes with copper or PEX is the most reliable solution.
Limescale
In many parts of the UK, hard water causes limescale in bathroom pipes. It’s not harmful, but it can change the taste and clog pipes. Using a filter can reduce limescale and improve the water.
Microbial Safety
Tap water in the UK is treated and tested for safety, so it is usually safe to drink. Warm water from bathroom tanks, however, may contain more microbes if the tank isn’t well cared for.
Chemical Residues
Although rare, tiny traces of pharmaceuticals or chemicals can sometimes be found in tap water. These are at very low levels and are generally considered safe.
Is it Safe to Drink Water from Hotel Bathroom Taps?
The biggest issue with drinking bathroom tap water in hotels is the possible presence of lead. Some older hotels have lead plumbing, and even newer hotels with copper pipes can be at risk if lead solder was used in the connections.
Another concern with hotel bathroom tap water is the potential build-up of harmful bacteria and germs. Let’s be realistic.
Frequently Asked Questions on Bathroom Tap Water
1. What are the most common pollutants in bathroom tap water?
Common Contaminants Found in Bathroom Tap Water:
- Heavy metals: Lead, Mercury
- Chemicals used in water treatment: Chlorine, Chloramines
- Organic compounds: VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
- Pharmaceuticals: Natural or synthetic chemical compounds
- Agricultural chemicals: Herbicides, Pesticides
- Microorganisms: Cysts
2. What is the difference in quality between bathroom tap water and kitchen tap water?
While kitchen mains water generally offers better quality than bathroom tap water from a storage tank, regular cleaning of the tank can help ensure that bathroom water is equally safe and clean.
3. Is it okay to wash teeth using bathroom tap water?
You can safely use bathroom tap water for brushing your teeth, as long as it isn’t swallowed. For young children, make sure they spit out the water while brushing.
4. Should I install a water filter in my bathroom to keep the water safe to drink?
Installing a water filter in your bathroom is an excellent idea. A water filter may remove potentially hazardous elements like lead from drinking water, making it safe for drinking.
Filtered water is not only safer, as the filter reduces chlorine and bacteria, but it also tastes fresher.
5. Can you use bathroom tap water to cook and prepare food?
Lead poisoning is a serious concern if the bathroom tap water is unsafe to drink. Lead in water can harm the kidneys and nervous system.
A dead rodent or bird in an open water tank can lead to various stomach and intestinal infections.
7. Are there any places where drinking water from the bathroom tap is safe?
Drinking water directly from bathroom taps can be risky. Even with global improvements in sanitation, over 180 countries have tap water that is unsafe for visitors. In these places, bathroom tap water is even more hazardous due to stagnant water in poorly maintained water pipes.
If you drink contaminated water, you risk serious infections, some of which can be fatal. Locals tend to be more resistant to these microbes, but tourists are at greater risk.